Fjällräven blog

Hi all,

Once again it is time for our trekking event Fjallraven Classic, while most of our team spent the week in Salt Lake City for a great show at Outdoor Retailer we wanted to share some images and stories from the Swedish laplands here.

Read all about the Classic on www.fjallravenbloggen.com. We will be hiking in Park City today before returning to the office and will try to share some photos along the way!

Maria

Official debut of the two new colors that we have – Peach Pink and Frost Green!

Hej hej!

Guess what! We’ve gotten two new Kånken colors in stock! My favorite is the peach pink, which is just pink enough to be noticeable but not too bright as to be blinding. We also have another one called Frost Green, which we’ll post photos of later! I just wanted to give you a fun tidbit of color in your day!

Vi ses!

Hej hej! Here is a fantastic guest post from our friend, Elke Duerr. Elke is based in Albuquerque and is working on educating the public on wolves and their place in nature. She wrote this post about what she has been doing recently, and sent us a photo of the cutest wolf puppy, as well as herself in some great Fjällräven gear!
Enjoy!

It is puppy season in wolf country and in captivity. Usually, wolves have
2 to 7 puppies. From what I have heard, a wolf family in captivity who is
part of the captive breeding program has had 5 puppies this spring and of
course, there are the ones in the wild where it is a little bit more
difficult to find out how many pups have been born because they are still
in the den with their mother right now.

I just returned from a visit to wolf country in Arizona and New Mexico and
the news I am bearing are fantastic. The San Mateo wolf family who lost
their male last summer due to a bullet has accepted the male wolf that
Fish and Wildlife Services released in their territory. Better yet, the
female of the pack accepted him and had 5 puppies with him. A successful
match making story for sure…

The Paradise Wolf Family in Arizona has also had puppies and I am
delighted to have such good news to tell you. But what makes me the
happiest is the story of the wolf family that I am personally closest to:
The Hawk’s Nest Wolf Family.

I had been shedding many tears over the loss of “Walks-in-my-Footsteps”,
the male alpha wolf of the pack when he got killed by a bullet last
summer and when his yearling offspring, another male wolf suffered the
same fate of a premature and unnecessary death. And when a male from last
year’s litter who had dispersed in search of a mate and territory got shot
a long way from home near Grants, New Mexico. But I had prevailed in my
quest to help the wolves thrive in the wild and doubled my efforts to give
educational outreach talks and spread the word about our wolves.

I worried about the rest of the family, though. Would she be able to raise
the pups by herself? Would she ever find a mate again? What would happen
to his family?

It turns out I did not have to worry at all:

The widow of my buddy “Walks-in-my-footsteps” whom I call “Mama Love”
because she has raised so many puppies during the last years has found a
new mate of her own.

The people of Fish and Wildlife Services who are in charge of the Mexican
Gray Wolf Reintroduction Program had different plans for her: Since it is
very difficult for a wild wolf in the recovery area to find a mate due to
their small population number they selected a male wolf with just the
right genetics and released him in her general denning area. The idea had
been to capture her and put her in a holding pen right next to his and let
them “sniff each other out and possibly start bonding”. Their intentions
to help create a new wolf family were good. But Nature had something else
in mind.

As far as I know they never got to capture her and released him in the
vicinity of her family’s territory. But this particular male wolf was not
meant to be her new partner after “Walks-in-my-footsteps” had been shot
last summer. Instead of courting her he showed up repeatedly in close
proximity to human habitations. That caused concerns for their and their
pets safety by the humans in that area and he was put in captivity again
after his short somehow unsuccessful stint in the wild.

“Mama Love”, somehow, against all kinds of odds and predictions, flow
charts and human family planning for the wolves found herself her very own
mate. I do not know who he is and what lineage he came from, but in my
opinion that is not relevant. In fact, I am glad that I do not know him
by his studbook number. I like the fact that the mated pair found each
other naturally and out of their own volition. I am delighted that they
did what wolves have been doing for thousands and hundreds of thousands of
years without human interference and management. The only managing
involved was that they “managed” to do this on their own.

And guess what: they welcomed a litter of puppies into their den this
spring. The beautiful circle of life continues in the Hawk’s Nest
Territory. And I can’t help but think that “Walks-in-my-footsteps” is
smiling down at his family from his unmanaged eternal hunting grounds….

Hej hej! So yesterday, the 24th, was the awesome Midsommarsfest put on by the Swedish Consulate here in New York City. To get an idea of what midsommar really means to the Swedes without being in Sweden, I trekked on down to Wagner Park within Battery Park City, which is right on the river.

It was unfortunately a bit rainy, but that didn’t stop the celebrations! First I stopped by the tables where they were providing fresh flowers and materials for making beautiful flower halos. I had a little difficulty getting started, but a quick “Kan du hjälpa mig?” (Can you help me?) and I was given a tutorial by a Svensk herself!

My flower halo and I – så fint! (so fine!) Of course I’m decked out in Sweden’s finest outerwear!

I told this group that this was going on Fjällräven’s blog, so they got really excited and gave me their biggest smiles.

I then went into the main area where there was so much food and merriment – I immediately felt the energy. I wandered around a bit and then decided to hit up the amazing buffet they had. There was bread, potatoes, vegetables, beets, and fish! Seemed like a good smörgåsbord of midsommar dishes. I filled up my plate, and ate heartily.

Hej hej god mat (good food)!

I also met a vacker kvinna (lovely lady) who was from Göteborg (Gothenburg). She told me that her mother is a folkdancer back in Sweden, so she grew up seeing the traditional Swedish dances all the time. She also said that midsommar is so crazy in Sweden; everyone just has a great time for the whole weekend.

Then the maypole was raised! First children danced around the midsommarstång, then adults. The children’s group was from Barnklubben Elsa Rix which has been around for 90 years! The adults were from The Swedish Folkdancers of New York, a group that is 105 years old. So much tradition here in New York – but to think that the dances they performed have been around for even longer than that! Both groups did a great job, and the costumes were so lovely. It looked like so much fun, I wish I could’ve danced with them!

I had a great time and I definitely can’t wait for next year’s Midsommar celebration. I can only hope that one day I’ll get to experience it in Sverige, I bet it’s 10000x bigger!

Förrän nästa år! (Until next year!)

Hej hej! So the summer solstice has come, we’ve passed the longest day of the year, but summer is just getting started! This weekend is the time for the midsommar celebrations, both here in NYC and over in Sverige.

Midsommar is a big deal over in Sweden, taking over the entire weekend of the summer solstice. The main celebrations begin on Friday, where a huge maypole (midsommarstång) is raised and danced around. This maypole is covered with collected greens and flowers. During this maypole dance, traditional folk music plays, and some wear traditional Swedish garb with crowns of wildflowers.

(source)

There is, of course, lots of good food and drink, including strawberries, herring, and snaps! During the feast, there will be many drinking songs sung, called snapsvisor.

There used to be a lot of rituals performed during midsommar because it was considered one of the times of the year when magic was the strongest. Children would pick bouquets and put them under their pillow while sleeping; it was believed that they would then dream about their future spouse. Greenery was placed over houses and barns to bring good health to their inhabitants.

(source)

Sounds beautiful and fun, doesn’t it?

Here in NYC, we can celebrate midsummer in a New York way in Battery Park, thrown by the Swedish Consulate. It’s happening tomorrow, Friday June 24th, from 5-8PM. There will be lots of good food and maypole dancing, with fun traditional music! We’re excited and will be counting the Kånkens in the crowd!

Vi ses!

Hej hej! So it’s a big week here in the US! On Söndag (Sunday) it’s Father’s Day! We’ve got a lot of great gifts here, we’ve been eyeing up what Dad’s getting.

If you need gift ideas, here are some of the best things we’ve been thinking of:

- Greenland Jacket: The Greenland Jacket is perfect for transitional weather and while we’re still going from Spring to Summer, Dad will get so much use out of this great jacket! Made from G-1000, our super durable, extra water-resistant fabric! Find it here: http://www.fjallraven.us/p-14-mens-greenland-jacket.aspx

- Vintage 30L Daypack: A cool daypack with a back that will keep Pop’s back dry throughout the summer heat! It fits so much and is very stylish, so it can go basically anywhere, from the sidewalk to the side of the forest! Pack a picnic for you and your dad in his great new G-1000 bag. Find it here: http://www.fjallraven.us/p-69-vintage-30-l.aspx

- Kajka 85: If you want to take your father out on the trails, the lightweight and roomy Kajka 85 is the perfect incentive. It’s made out of our water-resistant Vinylon F fabric and has our Perfect Fit adjustment system so he’ll be very comfortable on the hike. Find it here: http://www.fjallraven.us/p-109-kajka-85.aspx

- Ingmar Trousers: Sometimes Dads are very fussy about their pants, but we’ve found that these Ingmar Trousers appeal to basically everyone! They’re made from the durable G-1000 but don’t have that super outdoorsy look, so he can wear them for Father’s Day brunch and then out on a mountain later the same day! Find them here: http://www.fjallraven.us/p-102-ingmar-trousers.aspx

Finally, no gift is complete without the Greenland Wax to impregnate the fibers with excellent water-resistance to put up with pounding rain. Take care of your dad’s gift, as maybe one day it will come back to you!

Don’t forget the swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam, and tell him, “Grattis på farsdagen!” (That’s “Happy Father’s Day” in Swedish!)

If you’ve visited our store, chances are you’ve seen the large framed poster of a handsome fellow hanging on the wall, watching over the store. This man is Sir Edmund Hillary, who became, with Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, the first climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest. This fantastic feat was accomplished at the young age of 33 on May 29th, 1953.

He became interested in mountaineering while in secondary school, and participated in some climbing missions prior to the successful expedition up Everest. During his time, Nepal only allowed one expedition per year to Everest, which was the only way of accessing the mountain; the other route was closed off by Tibet. In 1952, Sir Edmund was invited by the Joint Himalayan Committee to join the 1953 British attempt and immediately accepted. There was a bit of rearranging of the team prior to setting out, and Hillary actually considered dropping out, but was encouraged to stay on.

The team climbed together, with a tremendous group effort, and set up their final camp at South Col, which is at 25,900 feet up. The team Captain, John Hunt, instructed Sir Edmund and Norgay to head for the summit! They went for it on May 28th, wearing 30 lb packs while their support group descended the mountain. They set up a tent at 27,900 ft and rested up prior to the final ascent. The last part of the ascent is a 40 ft rock face, later named the Hillary Step after the climbing hero who conquered it.

Everest’s summit is 29,028ft, the highest point on Earth. Hillary and Norgay reached it at 11:30am on the 29th of May. They spent about 15 minutes there, snapped a few photos, and then began their descent.

After this amazing adventure, Hillary continued with historical events. He accompanied the first plane to land in Antarctica, led a jetboat expedition along the Ganges River, and appeared on the NZ$5 note, becoming the only New Zealander to appear on a banknote while still living.

He was knighted shortly after his Everest expedition, and participated in philanthropy for the rest of his life. He founded the Himalayan Trust, which helped build schools and hospitals in Nepal for the Sherpa people.

As lovers of the outdoors, we look to Sir Edmund Hillary for inspiration!

Hej hej! Well, summer is officially upon us. The weather is soaring into the high 70ºs and 80ºs and of course, all we want to do is spend our time in the Great Outdoors! But, we still have to work to make sure you have easy access to Fjällräven fun!

In the meantime, we’ve been planning out our summer hiking. One of the most beautiful parts of New York state is the Adirondacks. They are a mountain range located inside of Adirondack Park, which is a 6.1 million acre area in the northeastern portion of New York. In addition to the mountain range, there are 2.3 million acres of forest preserve. This makes for beautiful land to hike in. The Adirondacks are very popular, especially during the summer months. You can hike up the 46 “High Peaks”, which are the mountains over 4,000 feet tall, check out the famous Lake Placid, or explore The Great North Woods.

There is something for everyone within the Adirondacks; its rich history, gorgeous views and extensive flora and fauna provide endless activities.

For more information on the Adirondacks and the summer fun there, check out these links!

http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/

http://visitadirondacks.com/

Ha sa kul! (Have fun!)

One of the best parts of the Kånken is its “go anywhere, do everything” attitude. It can hold way more than you think, is waterproof, and so comfortable. Recently, a Kånken went on a trip with our friend to Lake Placid for a fun adventure. We were sent some amazing photos!

With Memorial Day weekend ahead, there will be plenty of time for you and your Kånken to explore the Great Outdoors! Kånkens are fantastic for daytrips to the woods for a picnic and some sight-seeing. Here are a few things you’ll want to make sure to bring with you!

1. A map! Of course. If you already know where you’re going, it’s still handy to make sure you stay on the correct route. But a map might encourage you to switch it up and find a new course! And if you’re going someplace new, a map keeps you right on track. Most maps also have landmarks, campsites and other lodging marked just in case.
2. A compass! Sometimes in the forest you can’t see the sun, or if there is some foul weather, a compass will help you out if you can’t see landmarks.
3. Water and a purifier! Hiking is a fun, vigorous exercise. During an activity like this it is important to stay hydrated. It’s going to be in the 80ºs here in New York, so bring along lots of water, and/or purification tabs so if you come across a stream you can make sure you don’t get sick.
4. Sunscreen and sunglasses! Even in the woods, or if it’s overcast, UV rays can still get to you, and if you spend too much time outside without protection you can get very burnt. Sunscreen also lowers your susceptibility to melanoma. Sunglasses protect your eyes in the same way that sunscreen protects your skin.
5. Food! Pack a picnic for fun! Or if you’re focusing on moving through a trail, just make sure you have enough food to keep you energized. Protein and carbs are important to keep track of when climbing on rocks or jumping over fallen trees.
6. First Aid Kit! Even if you’re careful you might get stuck with a thorn or scraped on a rock, or stung by a bee! Make sure you have antiseptic and bandaids at the very least; you can get prepacked First Aid Kits at most outdoors stores. If you have First Aid knowledge via a class, even better. Prepare for the worst but expect fun!

There are other things you can pack depending on when you anticipate returning from your trip, like a tent, or a flashlight, cooking supplies… We have backpacks to fit all sorts of travels, which you can see here!
Enjoy the long weekend, and take a hike!